Our Final Performance Appraisal

Usually, a least once a year, those of us in the workforce have a "Performance Appraisal". This is a time that may bring joy (hopefully) in the form of a pay increase and positive feedback from our bosses or a time of uncomfortable critique and examination of our shortcomings. In preparation for our performance appraisal, we may keep a running list of our accomplishments and achievements and bring them up to enhance our evaluation. Even if our performance appraisal turns out positive, there is probably at least some sense of fear and anxiety going into the experience.

As much as we pay attention to our job-related performance appraisals, there is a much more important one to come---our final performance appraisal. Every person who has ever lived--believers and non-believers---will have a final performance appraisal before God. As we stand before our perfect, holy and just Creator, there will be no opportunity to sell the value of what we've achieved or embellish our accomplishments. There will be no excuses or arguments. All we will have to show and all that we will be evaluated on will be what we did in His name.

Matthew 25:31-46 gives us a vivid picture of what our final performance appraisal will look like. Our Lord Jesus Christ will be sitting on his Heavenly throne (v.31) and everyone will appear before him and be judged (v.32-33). Christ will separate the true believers who ministered to others and served those in need (v. 34-40) from those who did nothing to serve or minister to others (v. 42-45). Those who served others in His name will be rewarded (v. 34) and those who didn't will be punished (v. 41).

There is one way to ensure that our final performance appraisal will result in eternal reward. We must continually examine our hearts and pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal to us how to use our God-given gifts and talents to serve others in a way that honors and glorifies Him. Then our final performance appraisal will be our best ever; resulting in our Lord saying to us "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:21)